The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-04-09
HER PRESENT.
Mrs. Devereaux' Experience as a
Collector of Bric-a-Brac.

Lily, as Young Mrs. Deyereaux was
familiarly called by her husband and
friends, was II pretty little woman. a
bright and %cnterprising housekecper,
and a favoritc with every one, as it
seemed to be her life to make every
one about her cheerful, hopeful and
cOntented.
II did. indeed. seem as if y summers
breeze or u bit Of sunshine came when
she entered any room: not alone be-
cause she was very lovely, with cheeks
like rosrhnds. but her face seemed
alight with the fire of ch~eerfulncss and
her smile was charming.
But bright and entcrprising as was
her spirit. she was an inexperienced
little woman. rs she sometimes found
10 her cost, when the bread was heavy
and the potatoes water-soaked, for
Mrs. Lily Devcreaux-a name as pref
ty as herseif-had stepped from board
Ing school into her own house, and
being an orphan, had no onct to guide her
through the mazes of Housekeeping.
Her husbands mother, n pleasant old
lady who lived with her son. sometimes
came to the rescue; but Lily; being
brave and determined to learn, know
Ing also that her husbands salary
would not enable her to keep more than
one servant. set herself diligently at
work to improve her knowledge of
household matters. As pluck always
wins, Lily became an expert in time.
With many others of her age, this
young housckcepcr was fond of pretty,
useless little things, that, under the
name Of dric-a-brac. cumber so many
shelves and what-nots and chitoniers.
and that take nearly all ones time to
keep clean. If these things come down
from generation to generation, and one
can point to ones grandmother's tea
cups, OF ones great grandmother's
china bowl or pitcher, and other little
relies of days past and gone, it is all
well and good.
know n closet set away back in n
n't'e passage leading from the parlor.
that is very pleasant to see. There are
the tiny cups and saucers, the spoons,
worn so slender. the little odd-looking
p~lckle.dishes. the glass. nearly two
centuries old; things that have a real
history, that a be told and authenti-
Gated.
From what Lily could ave Of her
small means, she resolved to purchase a
piece Of maiolica. as she had none of
that ware. Now, her husbands birth
aay was near Mt hand, and she decided
mat she would make him a present of
something old rare and genuine. She
mad seen pitchers all the way from
'hree to thirty dollars, but there was
one piece. a specially ugly little bit Of
ware. with u device that suggested
nothing. unless a very deformcd and
demonstrating toad might stand for
Il symbol. which she was assured was a
Veritable piece Of ancient art.
From week to week Lily saved what
she could. pinching a little, till she had
obtained this m~uch-coveted piece of
o''c-a-brac. When it was once in her
possession. she hid it jealousy in MI
OH unused closet, till the time should
come to bring it forth. The piece had
y history, which, of course, enhanced
~ value. and coming from the lips of
:ne pic'nresquely bearded jew who told
IT. icll with II peculiar charm on Lily's
Innocent ears.
Inc salesman's story was as follows:
1T vass a lady, miss. in mooch re-
ouced circumstances. She bring it to
me- and she say: 1 moost hat monish
20 Keep me schild from starving. Dis
vase belong to mine father. who vass a
under Bonapartc, and he car
s'es 1t wild him at all his campaigns. be-
.'usc 1t vass so fcry old and belonging
" inc highest familc connected with
'oyalty.' | do assure you, miss, I haf
wy iecl'n's 50 worked on that I give her
as mooch rs l charge you.'
/. 4 romantic story; bat there was yet
: lingering scrpt.c.sm In Lilly's mind.